The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-02-10
1T WAS FOUL PLAY,
But Mine Host HIpp, Of the American,
ls the Victim.
Some More of Parks Franks, Beating
Hotels, Getting Money Under False
Pretenses and General
Cussedness.

A few weeks since an item appeared
In the columns of the DEMOCRAT. head
ed WAS 1t Foul Play" in which the
mysterious disappearance of one Willis
+. Park was mentioned. At the time it
was thought he had been spirit away,
or perhaps In his innocent helplessness
had been drOWled in some out house,
for his hotel bill was, and Is yet un.
paid. Recent developments, however
have somewhat changed public opinion,
and Mr., Hipp concludes that there
has been foul play, but that
he, (Hipp), has been the victim.
There Is another person In Canton, too,
who has been uneasy concerning the
fate of PARK, and that Is our genial
County Auditor, Pat Manly. On tie oc.
cssion Of Parks recent visit here he
struck the Auditor for three dollars, Just
needing that amount above what he had
with him, but would give Mr.. Manly his
check on the Alliance Bank Company,
where his funds were deposited. Mr..
Manly is an accommodating gentleman
and,readily granted him the favor. The
check was forwarded to Alliance, but
strange to say, Park had no bark ac-
count there, and Mr.. Manly found him
self out not only his original $500 but
81 for protest besides.
Park, being q gentleman Of leisure, is
quite traveller and is mostly Ou the
wing. The town of Gallon was favored
by visit from him few weeks ago
and the Gallon Inquirer gives him the
following notice:
Whether 1t was thrown up bV the
great force of the mammoth Karg gas
well, at Findlay, whether 1t was blown
In by western cyclone, or whether 1t
was phenOmenally created on the SPIT
no one seems to know. Certain 1t is,
however, that 1t appeared at the Capitol
H09se on Thursday, January 9th, and
Ornamented the register of that travel
ers' home with this inscription: willis
F. Parks, Alliance, o" Thus 1t appear
ed upon the scene, and thus endeth the
first chapter.
This man Parks, who Is the hero of
this adventure, was a great literary gen.
ius. He had obtained an education at
Harvard university and at various times
had written able editorials for the great
journals of the country. Twas true
that he had no connection with any
newspaper when he came to this great
metropolis, but his stock in trade was
wind and cheek lin the p4rlance
parlance street urchiD) and that,
as the sequel will show, was the means
of supporting him in royal style during
his stay here.
He induced friend, who had known
him In former years, to introduce him
to number of our leading people and
was entertained with great eclat He
declared his intention of supporting
himself while here by writing uD" our
business men at 80 much per column.
To this end he called on the Inquirer
and arranged for the publication of
these puffs In the columns of that great
| journal at stated sum per column.
Investigation disclOses the fact that he
threw out the bait TO the merchants and
represented to them the Importance of
being written up, but these gentlemen
failed to bite.
! In the meantime the prOprietOrs of
the hotel at which he was stopping
mOdestly requested remuneration for
the good cheer with which he was pro.
yided. To this he replied that he daily
expected remittance from rich reIa-
tive In California. When that gag re-
fused to work he explained that gen.
tleman In this city would guarantee the
L p0J HOhb VI ulo uOaAu Ullls no
was very affable and cOur tsous
In his demeanor with the hotel
people and took no Offense at ths fire..
queut hints that his presence could cas-
lily be dispensed with. Finally he was
fatty told to leave and induced to COM
ply with the request. He next regis.
tered at the Central Hotel, but was not
permitted to remain long. Since that
time nothing has been heard from him
and he probably left the town as sud-
denly and mysterious as he entered it.
This fellow Park appears to be fraud
Of the lirst water. He had no apparent
means when he came and engaged in q
systematic effort of borrowing small
sums from all who could be induced to
pert with their lucre How much
money he was enabled to obtain in this
way no one knows. Certain it Is that he
obtained money by false pretenses and
defrauded the hotels. The doors of the
woIkho1se and penitenttary are gaping
for him"